INTERN - POLITICAL AFFAIRS [Temporary]

The post is located at the Office of the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) within the NGO Liaison Unit, Political Affairs and Partnerships Section in the Office of the Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva.
The internship is for a minimum duration of two (2) months and can be extended up to six (6) months. The internship is UNPAID and full time. The Intern(s) work five days per week under the supervision of the Head of the NGO Liaison Unit, Political Affairs and Partnerships Section in the Office of the Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva Responsibilities.
The NGO Liaison Unit is the focal point for matters related to relations between the United Nations Office at Geneva, NGOs and Civil Society Organizations. The Office maintains liaison with non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and facilitates their engagement with the United Nations.

The intern will need to follow NGO participation at the UN meetings in Geneva, in particular, the sessions of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms. In that sense, the intern will contribute to the preparation and the organization of the documentation pertaining to these sessions and meetings.

At the request of the Chief of Unit, the intern will attend public meetings with NGO participation and will draft the reporting minutes; Contribute to the organization of NGO meetings held in Palais des Nations supported by the Unit and liaise with relevant United Nations colleagues; Participate to meetings which are of strategic interest for the NGO Liaison Unit. For that purpose, the intern will gather the requested documentation and produce reports; Support the Unit in developing a communication tool and outreach strategy as well as produce guidelines and materials to facilitate the engagement of civil society actors with the UN; Research themes which are of interest to the Office of the Director-General; Support the Unit while performing a combination of administrative and substantive tasks.

PROFESSIONALISM: Conceptual skills and ability to conduct independent research, identify issues and summarize diverse information. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations. Good understanding of the UN's mission and organizational setup.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and shows interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

TEAM WORK: Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; ability to place the team agenda before a personal one.

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:- Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent); or (c) have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one year period of graduation; Be computer literate in standard software applications;- Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and- Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this position, Fluency in English and in French (both oral and written) is required. Good knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Potential candidates will be contacted by hiring manager directly for further consideration. Written tests could be conducted.

Completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Cover Note must include:- Availability, Title of degree you are currently pursuing.- Graduation Date (When will you be/have graduating/graduated from the programme).- IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in.- Top three areas of interest.- Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship. - Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme. In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references. Due to the high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.